This is a camera that defies reason. Having said that, there are a few very definite and logical reasons why this camera is an attractive purchase. And why I bought one.
First, it offers an excellent image sensor and that's the heart of any digital camera. It is the same sensor that Nikon employs in its flagship DSLR, the Nikon D4. It's a 16.2 MP sensor that also offers extraordinary low light performance. Since the D4 retails at around $6,000, the Df offers access to Nikon's, arguably, best sensor at less than half the price of the D4. Nikon does offer cameras with higher megapixel ratings, but their low light performance does not match the performance of the D4's. Period.
So, when considering the Df, the first question that must be answered is whether low light performance is more important than sensor MP count. If it's MP count, then the Nikon D600 and D800 series cameras offer more. But if it's low light performance, particularly holding detail in shadows in low light situations, then either the D4 or the Df is the answer. For me, the D4 was out of the question because of price and I simply don't need all the other features of the D4, the frame rate, high buffer capacity, I don't need video, etc. And I didn't want the bulk of the D4.
The other potential deal changer is the lack of a pop-up flash on the Df. To be honest, I wish it had one. I like using the pop-up flash on my other Nikon digital cameras; most often using it in the "commander" mode to trigger remote flashes. Now, I have to mount a flash unit to the accessory shoe and use that as the commander. It works just as well, it's just a little bulky with the mounted flash unit. This was almost a deal killer for me, but when I really thought about the number of times that I used the pop-up flash on my other cameras, I decided I could live without it.
The "final" consideration regarding the Df is its size and weight. When I received mine, I was surprised at how small it was even smaller than the pictures seemed to indicate. That's not to say that it's too small; rather it fits very nicely to hand and is much more comfortable to use than the larger Nikons. That's a big plus. I also have a Leica and, while the Df is not as small and nimble to use as the Leica, it comes close. A really big plus.
So those are the major considerations: sensor performance, lack of a pop-up flash and its great compact, unobtrusive size. Everything else, when comparing the Df to other Nikon cameras, is not nearly as relevant.
Except for one very important thing. And what prompted me to order one when it was first announced. Its style. This camera takes me back to the time that I fell in love with photography in the first instance; the days of the Nikon F film cameras, particularly the F3HP. Everything I've written above really doesn't matter. This is a camera that is purchased on an emotional basis, not an intellectual one; with the heart, rather than the mind. When I hold it, the controls fall into place perfectly. Muscle memory from decades ago causes my fingers to fall perfectly onto the controls. This camera frees me from the technical aspects of photography to focus on the creative aspects. This camera is perfect. Now if I could only figure out where to load the film...
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